Little League season nears and a primer is in order

Seems as if most of the Little Leaguers in town have been signed
up, paraded out, suited up and are rarin' to get started on another
season of my favorite sport. For some, though, it's their first
season and that means a lot of you parent s out there may be
watching your son or daughter play competitive sports for the first
time. Which means they will also be getting instruction from
someone other than yourselves for the first time, too. Oh, yes,
that can hurt! Been there. It's not always an easy thing to see
your future Major Leaguer or Olympian being schooled by someone
else for the first time.

I mean, does little Bobby's new coach know how he reacts to
criticism? Does he know how to deal with his moods? Does he know
when to pat him on the back?

No, no and no. Of course not.

Just For Parents

Here then, is something just for those parents of new Little
Leaguers and some of the veteran Little League parents can always
use a refresher course.

Call this a primer, if you will. A few observations and hints
from an ex-Little League and youth player, parent, coach,
scorekeeper, umpire and observer for more years that I would like
to admit. (Yes, this will sound familiar to some of you because
I've written on this theme before. And no, I can't comply with
requests to do this again for the fall and winter youth seasons
because my boss already thinks I'm taking a day off everytime I
rehash this one on baseball.)

First of all, parents, you know more about baseball than the
coach and you're smarter than he is, too.

Let's face it, this guy cuts work, gives up evenings, weekends
and maybe even vacation time to be with your kids. You call that
smart?

You know you would be out there, too, if you didn't work in the
city, or play tennis on Tuesdays, or have that softball league on
Thursdays, or play golf or fish on weekends.

Good thing these Little League coaches don't have any interest
for that stuff, right?

So don't be afraid to help out the coach with some advice
especially if you think your kid should play short instead of right
or bat second instead of eighth.

I'm sure the coach would like you to share this with
him.

Same goes for game strategy. Why does your kid have to bunt the
runner overall t he time? And shouldn't he have had that kid steal
to put himself into scoring position so your kid could have had a
chance at an RBI?

Talk to the coach about this.

Late Dinners

The best time for these conversations is right after practice.
So give him a cal l because he'll probably love to talk baseball
with you instead of sitting down to another late dinner, late
because he came right from work to the practice field.

And when you take your kid to practices or games? Just drop him
off …don't eve n bother asking if the coach needs help with the
equipment, or fixing he field, or working with the kids.

Oh, and don't worry about being on time to pick up your kid,
either.

Practices usually run late and I'm sure the coach won't mind
hanging around with your kid until you show up to cart him
home.

After all, the coach loves kids, too, remember?

Better yet, maybe the coach can drop him off on his way home?
That'll save you an extra trip. I'm sure he won't mind.

Actually, practices aren't all that important … the games are
the thing, agree?

Besides, the coach wouldn't give more playing time to the kids
who came to practice regularly, would he?

And when you get to the game, save your cheers for you kid and
only your kid. The other parents will take care of their
own.

Make sure you ask the coach why he has his head buried in the
scorebook instead of watching the game. How hard can it be to make
sure each kid on the roster get s his required innings in on the
field and his required at-bats?

And how long did it take you to notice the coaches' kids always
start? Of course, your kid is better.

Don't Forget Umps

It's also a good thing to let the umpires know when they are
wrong. After all, you know the rules better than they do and you
can call balls and strikes better from the stands than they can
from their spot behind the plate.

And it's absolutely true that the tall ump, the one with
glasses, has it in for your team.

Now that we've had some fun, let's take the tongue out of the
cheek for a moment and talk about something that is absolutely
true. Maybe not in all towns, but in some towns.

You know the draft at the beginning of the season where the
coaches select the p layers for their rosters? Well, those picks
are usually made over coffee or tea in somebody's kitchen or rec
room and it's not always talent that comes into play on the
choices.

Believe me, the parents are well-scouted, too. Kids of lesser
talent have been bypassed because some coaches don't want to have
to deal with their parents.

Like I said before … been there.

So please, enter this new experience with the idea you're going
to enjoy your son's or daughter's Little League experience as much
as they are.

There is a good chance you will create some wonderful
friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.

Just make sure the "Little" in Little League always refers to
the players.

Watch this discussion.Stop watching this discussion.

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In recent weeks, Long Hill Township and Watchung Borough passed ordinances allowing their police departments to be able to apply for surplus equipment from the Department of Defense. Long Hill recently procured a Humvee to use in times of flooding, which Watchung states as the reason they are getting into the program. However, in cities around the country, police forces have used the program to obtain military gear, such as weapons and armor.
For more background, go to the link below
http://www.newjerseyhills.com/echoes-sentinel/news/watchung-police-department-hopes-to-receive-equipment-from-department-of/article_12ad002a-92b3-5449-a2cc-4b2cf0ce4339.html